tripped; tripping
1
: to catch the foot against something so as to stumble
2
: to make a mistake or false step (as in morality or accuracy)
3
a
: to dance, skip, or caper with light quick steps
b
: to walk with light quick steps
4
: to stumble in articulation when speaking
5
: to make a journey
6
a
: to actuate a mechanism
b
: to become operative
7
a
: to get high on a psychedelic drug (such as LSD) : turn on
—often used with out
b
slang
: freak sense 3b
1
a
: to cause to stumble
—often used with up
b
: to cause to fail : obstruct
—often used with up
2
: to detect in a misstep, fault, or blunder
3
: to release or operate (a mechanism) especially by releasing a catch or detent
trip the fire alarm
4
: to raise (an anchor) from the bottom so as to hang free
5
a
: to pull (a yard) into a perpendicular position for lowering
b
: to hoist (a topmast) far enough to enable the fid to be withdrawn preparatory to housing or lowering
6
archaic
: to perform (a dance) lightly or nimbly
2
a
: an intense visionary experience undergone by a person who has taken a psychedelic drug (such as LSD)
b
: an exciting or unusual experience
the party was a trip
3
: absorption in or obsession with an interest, attitude, or state of mind
a guilt trip
on a nostalgia trip
4
: a faltering step caused by stumbling
5
: a stroke or catch by which a wrestler is made to lose footing
7
: a quick light step
8
a
: the action of tripping mechanically
b
: a device for tripping a mechanism (such as a catch or detent)
Synonyms
Examples of trip in a Sentence
Verb
He deliberately tried to trip me.
The dancers tripped off the stage.
Noun
They got back from their trip yesterday.
a trip around the world
He was on an acid trip.
an ankle injury caused by a trip
See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Asher Notheis, Washington Examiner, 12 Nov. 2023
Some neuroscientists now believe that the drugs’ mental-health benefits don’t come from tripping.
—Richard A. Friedman, The Atlantic, 8 Nov. 2023
While approaching her judge’s chair and waving at the audience, Klum tripped and hit the floor, a clip from the new AGT spinoff showed.
—Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 28 Oct. 2023
Bullying, mental health and death threats are discussed, and footage of professional matches shows players being tripped, kicked and pushed.
—Common Sense Media, Washington Post, 20 Oct. 2023
There are so many things to love about fall—cozy weather, trips to the apple orchards or pumpkin patches, leaf-peeping, football games, loading up on pumpkin spice everything… the list goes on and on.
—Sunset Staff, Sunset Magazine, 12 Oct. 2023
But three days before their return, Ms. McNeely tripped and fell, damaging her spine, which had been weakened from radiation treatments.
—Will Heinrich, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2023
Halfway through the video, the tables turn and Joanna is then chased by the ghost, who ends up tripping and falling, losing his pants.
—Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 1 Nov. 2023
Both candidates have had physical issues: Biden has tripped or fallen repeatedly and Trump, in 2020, defended his unusually cautious walk down a ramp while holding onto a service member's arm.
—Lalee Ibssa, ABC News, 31 Oct. 2023
Tom Soufi Burridge, ABC News, 21 Nov. 2023
According to Ephron, Mayers finally reached out to him directly the evening of November 6, 2021, with calls and texts asking where Ephron was staying during a trip to Los Angeles.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 20 Nov. 2023
My mom fobbed me off with wistful trips around the city.
—Eren Orbey, The New Yorker, 20 Nov. 2023
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced a new military aid package for Ukraine of up to $100 million during an unannounced trip to Kyiv on Monday.
—Mike Brest, Washington Examiner, 20 Nov. 2023
Meanwhile, more baby boomers are taking trips this year compared to last year, after putting off travel over inflation or health concerns.
—Josh Feldman, NBC News, 19 Nov. 2023
The good days were filled with trips to the beach in Rhode Island, karaoke parties at their Brooklyn apartment and pool days with their daughter.
—Andrea Salcedo, Washington Post, 19 Nov. 2023
During his latest trip to the United States, Myhovych has also visited hospitals and other organizations across Tennessee and Kentucky.
—Tony Holt, arkansasonline.com, 19 Nov. 2023
The family also made a special trip together up to the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty, as documented on Marlo’s social media.
—Francesca Gariano, Peoplemag, 18 Nov. 2023
See More
Verb
But sure, Joe Biden is three years older and occasionally trips on things.
—Asher Notheis, Washington Examiner, 12 Nov. 2023
Some neuroscientists now believe that the drugs’ mental-health benefits don’t come from tripping.
—Richard A. Friedman, The Atlantic, 8 Nov. 2023
While approaching her judge’s chair and waving at the audience, Klum tripped and hit the floor, a clip from the new AGT spinoff showed.
—Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 28 Oct. 2023
Bullying, mental health and death threats are discussed, and footage of professional matches shows players being tripped, kicked and pushed.
—Common Sense Media, Washington Post, 20 Oct. 2023
There are so many things to love about fall—cozy weather, trips to the apple orchards or pumpkin patches, leaf-peeping, football games, loading up on pumpkin spice everything… the list goes on and on.
—Sunset Staff, Sunset Magazine, 12 Oct. 2023
But three days before their return, Ms. McNeely tripped and fell, damaging her spine, which had been weakened from radiation treatments.
—Will Heinrich, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2023
Halfway through the video, the tables turn and Joanna is then chased by the ghost, who ends up tripping and falling, losing his pants.
—Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 1 Nov. 2023
Both candidates have had physical issues: Biden has tripped or fallen repeatedly and Trump, in 2020, defended his unusually cautious walk down a ramp while holding onto a service member's arm.
—Lalee Ibssa, ABC News, 31 Oct. 2023
Noun
During his trip to Ukraine, Austin announced a new $100 million security aid package for Ukraine, which included an unspecified number of those NATO-standard 155mm artillery shells.
—Tom Soufi Burridge, ABC News, 21 Nov. 2023
According to Ephron, Mayers finally reached out to him directly the evening of November 6, 2021, with calls and texts asking where Ephron was staying during a trip to Los Angeles.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 20 Nov. 2023
My mom fobbed me off with wistful trips around the city.
—Eren Orbey, The New Yorker, 20 Nov. 2023
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced a new military aid package for Ukraine of up to $100 million during an unannounced trip to Kyiv on Monday.
—Mike Brest, Washington Examiner, 20 Nov. 2023
Meanwhile, more baby boomers are taking trips this year compared to last year, after putting off travel over inflation or health concerns.
—Josh Feldman, NBC News, 19 Nov. 2023
The good days were filled with trips to the beach in Rhode Island, karaoke parties at their Brooklyn apartment and pool days with their daughter.
—Andrea Salcedo, Washington Post, 19 Nov. 2023
During his latest trip to the United States, Myhovych has also visited hospitals and other organizations across Tennessee and Kentucky.
—Tony Holt, arkansasonline.com, 19 Nov. 2023
The family also made a special trip together up to the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty, as documented on Marlo’s social media.
—Francesca Gariano, Peoplemag, 18 Nov. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'trip.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English trippen, from Anglo-French treper, triper, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English treppan to tread — more at trap
First Known Use
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 3a
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 5
Time Traveler
The first known use of trip was
in the 14th century
Phrases Containing trip
Dictionary Entries Near trip
Cite this Entry
“Trip.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trip. Accessed 29 Nov. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
trip
1 of 2 noun1
: an act of causing another to stumble or fall
2
a
: a traveling from one place to another : journey
a trip to Europe
b
: a brief errand or journey with a purpose that often takes place on a regular basis
a trip to the dentist
3
4
a
: a quick light step
b
: a faltering step : stumble
5
a
: the action of releasing something mechanically
b
: a device (as a catch) for releasing a mechanism
trip
2 of 2 verb
tripped; tripping
1
: to move (as in dancing or walking) with light quick steps
2
a
: to catch one's foot against something so as to stumble
don't trip over the rock
b
: to cause to stumble
someone must have tripped him
3
a
: to make or cause to make a mistake
b
: to catch making a false statement, error, or blunder
questions designed to trip her up
4
: to release or start a device usually by moving a catch
tripped the fire alarm
More from Merriam-Webster on trip
Nglish: Translation of trip for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of trip for Arabic Speakers
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share